The JETSET is a special podcast that features music from various genres and time frames. Its sole purpose is to expose audiences to the beautiful grooves that exist around the world and over time. So, let's get ready for takeoff. No doubt about it, The JETSET will take you here, there, and everywhere!
Somebody had to do it....it might as well be me. Between all of the foolery with these blogs that are touting a bunch of poison to Black folks about the state of our relationships to the crass behavior of Black women on reality TV shows, there had to be something that will attempt to drive a wedge as well as present another angle to this whole thing.
This is where Love Letters comes in. As I work to take the JETSET Podcast Series (that's why y'all haven't seen any new mixes posted), I wanted to do a show that featured Black women speaking about loving Black men from a positive light. Below is Episode 1 teaser for the first conference call with some sistas with serious insight. The entire episode will be posted by March 11. Special thanks to the women who participated on this call:
Idette Harrison
Tonya Dyson
Trinita Simpson
Ginger Dee
Almetria Turner
If you're a sista interested in participating in one of our Love Letters episodes, contact us at producer@harkinshouse.net.
Tyler Woods showed up in my life a couple of years ago. I was minding my own business cruising Youtube and his video for 'Prove Myself' was sitting in the sidebar. The title contained one of the emerging brand names for dopeness, 9th Wonder, so I figured I'd check it out. This young chocolatey brotha with a '70s soul sound lodged in his throat flashed before me, crooning and gesturing towards the camera. Immediately, I fell in love with the song...and him. How could I not? With 9th's exquisite production work & Tyler's velvet sound along with some meaningful lyrics, it was an orgasmic moment for this music snob. The video was cool, too, of course, they could have left off the colorful dancers--they seemed out of place to me. I would have preferred to look at Tyler throughout the vid, but I know I can't get my way all of the time. I recall wondering the cyberworld looking for something to cop and, at the time, there wasn't much other than a couple of videos. But then, a mixtape emerged which satisfied my thirst for a little while but when the Mahogany Experiment dropped, I felt good all over. The Mahogany Experiment is Tyler Woods fullness -- and honestly, that's how I like it so I can get a real feel for him.
So, on that note, the Mahogany Experiment remains one click away from 'Play'. It's a Free-P that dropped on Valentine's Day this year and I copped mine at Okayplayer. He's proclaimed the R&B Sensation and it's befitting, mainly because he's got the voice of a real R&B singer. Remember those? Tyler doesn't sound like some 8th grader with a light falsetto singing about something he doesn't know anything about, but rather, a grown ass man that has had Life to teach him a thing or two. I like that. I love that.
So, yeah, go on and cop that Mahogany Experiment and show this brotha some love. Here's one my favorite joints from the Free-P called 'Be Together'.
Check out this new JETSET mix for our Shine Hip Hop series. This one is an experimental mix in an attempt to define a hip hop erotic. Here, we're defining it as a definitive Hip Hop sound; it's straightforward and full of lyrical delivery while encompassing an undeniable sensual element.
Listen to the show and share your feedback. Is this a good starting place for defining a Hip Hop Erotic?
Ok, let me get this out of the way. If you're really not paying attention at first, you may mistake Esnavi for India.Arie, but as you continue to listen, you will realize that it's not India's sultry alto serenading you, but rather Esnavi's full, rich, and beautiful vocals soaring over a range of musical flavors.
On her debut album, Exit E, Esnavi is showcasing her versatility from the uptempo 'Ding Ding' & 'Oh My!' to the straight ahead acoustic joint 'How Beautiful is He' and the soulful 'Unexpected Love' and 'Electric Fantasy'. From the intro, Esnavi uses the phrase, 'futuristic soul', apparently to describe her signature sound. On the title track, she displays her Hip Hop chops by spitting a little flow letting us know that she's taken us everywhere we wanna go, musically, that is. After spending some time checking out Exit E, I'm fully convinced that she's holding the best hand. For one, the songs on the album were actually crafted; written, arranged, and delivered with her own flair. That's the markers of a true artist.
According to the bio on her website, the Milwaukee native honed her singing & songwriting skills at an early age. Her moniker is actually an acronym for Eclectic, Soulful, Natural, Authentic, Vivacious, & Intriguing. Without a doubt, Esnavi lives up to her name with this solid effort. The standouts on the album are the aforementioned tracks along with 'Morning Dew', even though I cringe every time I hear the adlibs and chorus of the joint tinged with that hideous Auto-Tune. People who KNOW how to sing, like Esnavi, should just leave Auto Tune alone, but then, that's just the music snob in me. I digress.
My all time favorite song on the album is 'Memories'. The song immediately captivates you with its infectious bass line, acoustic guitar & emotional mix of strings along with Esnavi's bleeding heart delivery. It will definitely go over well with female music fans. More than that though, the song has the potential to qualify Esnavi as a mainstream force so, if it was left up to me, I would release this as a single and get a video done ASAP! You know, we're gonna do our part over here so, for all of my JETSET fans, expect to hear 'Memories' on an upcoming show. Meanwhile, all of you reading this should bounce over to Esnavi's website and get to know this young woman....then cop her album. Enjoy the ride on Exit E. I did.
